When I walked into The End on Saturday night, I knew I was in for a treat. The End, historically a rock venue, is known for its grime and edgy charm. With walls covered in stickers and the names of past performers written in neon paint, I wouldn’t exactly describe it as a cutesy venue. However, for that night, the venue was transformed into a dreamy, Pinterest-inspired haven adorned with stars dangling from the ceiling, a quilted banner behind the stage and bows everywhere. The stage design provided the perfect backdrop for Carol Ades and opener Sabrina Song to take the stage.
Very fittingly, Song came out wearing a white T-shirt with embroidered letters that matched the quilt behind her. She opened with “Okay, Okay,” a song off her album “You Could Stay In One Spot, and I’d Love You The Same,” which was released earlier this year. As Song performed, her dreamy vocals filled the room and drew the audience into her world.
“Hi, I’m Sabrina Song. Thank you so much for being here,” Song said after finishing her first song. “I’m from New York, and we’ve been working our way across the country.”
As the show continued, Song performed vulnerable lyrics that captured the attention of many. Songs such as “To Know You” captured how meaningful and grounding love can be when chaos surrounds you. In contrast, songs such as “Doors,” which Song revealed was secretly about her dad, focused on the struggles of growing up.
Midway through the set, Song switched from guitar to piano, inviting the crowd to dance if they hadn’t yet. She continued with more songs, thanking the audience for allowing her a safe space to share her deep thoughts through her lyrics.
“These [songs] are intimate and vulnerable, and what better audience than Carol’s beautiful sweet fans?” Song asked.
One of my favorite songs from the night was “Rage,” which Song wrote after a negative experience at a dinner where she was the only woman at the table.
“Sometimes [a table of all men is] fine, but everyone was drunk and talking only to each other and debating women’s issues. I might as well have left,” Song explained before performing “Rage.” “I came home, and it was one of the only times where I was like, ‘I need to write a song about this to get rid of this gross feeling.’”
Song continued with a few more songs before closing with “It Was Not a Beautiful Night” and “Strawberry.” The first is about how the best memories can come from the worst or most unexpected moments; the latter is her most streamed song.
Song left the audience captivated by her raw lyricism and ethereal presence. As she performed, she invited the audience to connect with the songs on a deeply personal level. Even though she was just the opener for this show, it’s clear that Song’s unique style will quickly win fans, setting her up for a headline tour soon.
